7. Grover Cleveland Groomed a Literal Child Bride
Frances Clara Folsom was the daughter of Oscar Folsom, a lawyer and longtime close friend of Grover Cleveland, who was 27 when
Frances was born. Her father died in a carriage racing accident in 1875, and left no will, so Cleveland was appointed by a court to administer his deceased friend’s estate. That brought him in close contact with Frances, and he became her new father figure. Unlike Oscar Folsom, who had been careless of his life and his family, “Uncle Cleve” was dependable, attentive, and doting. At some point, while Frances was growing up, things went from doting to grooming, as Cleveland began sending her flowers, with notes saying “I am waiting for my bride to grow up“.
Frances and those around her thought “Uncle Cleve” was kidding, but as things turned out, he was not. After Cleveland was elected president and while Frances was in college, he sent her a letter proposing marriage, and fretted like a schoolboy while awaiting her reply. She agreed, and on June 2nd, 1886, as the Marine Band was conducted by John Philip Sousa, 21 year old Frances Folsom wed the 49 year old president in the White House’s Blue Room. To date, it is the only time a president was married in the White House or while in office.
